Location:
Horn of Africa; in what is today Ethiopia. Oromia is approximately located between 3 degree and 15 degree N latitude and 33 degree and 40 degree longitude.
Size
375,000 Square Miles, or, 600,000 square kilometers; Larger than France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium & the Netherlands combined.
Population
40 million; 3rd. largest nationality in Africa; single largest nationality in East Africa.

WELCOME TO OROMONET

Saturday, April 21, 2007

April 19, 2007 — It has been five years since the Eritrean-Ethiopian Border Commission (EEBC) ruled its final and binding decision, to solve the border conflict of the two neighboring countries. Unfortunately due to Ethiopia’s objection and United States involvement negatively the delineation has not yet implemented. The hope for lasting peace dashed when the minority regime in Ethiopia changed its mind to reject the ruling from its prior stand accepting the decision calling upon the world community to pressure Eritrea to adhere to the rule of law. The so-called guarantors of the Algiers peace agreement are mainly working to contravene the accord. There are countless reasons to suggest United States is behind the stand of the regime in Ethiopia.But why is Ethiopia exempted from abiding by the rule of law?Here are few analysis argued by the sympathizers of the Ethiopian minority regime:· Families will be divided, a residence of individuals will be on one side and the farm will be on the other side of the country, and even single resident houses will split in to two, not to mention families.This seems a very reasonable argument. However, Eritrea is more sensitively concerned than Ethiopia when it comes to its citizen, therefore it will not allow its own citizen suffer from what it seems Ethiopia’s concern. Nonetheless Eritrea’s insistence to stick to the rule of law is the only solution for lasting peace.· Ethiopian government is weak to handle the consequences of public disobedience if the highly publicized town of “ Badme” is handed over to Eritrea. If that is the reasoning to their argumentative suggestion, the whole world will crumble. Lawlessness will flourish. If it is possible to deviate a law to accommodate certain part of society without taking into consideration the consequences it is suicidal mistake. Nigeria handed over oil rich Bakassi peninsula that belongs to neighboring Cameron despite reservations from some Nigerian citizens. It is Ethiopian governments duty to clarify and bring its citizens in line with the world community that the rule of law is supreme. Nothing could be done, once it is decided. It should be very clear that lands, which are still occupied by Ethiopia, cannot and will not be Ethiopian territory.· Eritrea must stop sympathizing, training and supporting Ethiopia’s opposition movements.Avoiding opposition movement(s) should not be an issue. It is in the hands of the regime in Ethiopia. If Ethiopia is able to accommodate its citizens with dignity, equality, respect, and provide them full and equal right in participating their right on governing themselves, there will be no military opposition that rely to military struggle. The regime in Ethiopia is well aware more than any other in the world. The TPLF struggle was a result of suppressive, and brutal administration of Ethiopia to Tigrai province and its people. Consequently, it is up to Ethiopia itself to accommodate its own people than blame neighboring country(ies).· Ethiopia being land locked, some kind of agreement must be reached.It is true Ethiopia is land locked nation. Ethiopia is not the sole land locked country in our world and especially in Africa. There are so many sovereign nations that are land locked, but sea access never been a case for animosity. Sea outlet is purely economic matter. It is one of the factors of nations they have to conclude a mutually agreeable accord. It should not be done under pressure of one to the other. It is to be remembered that Ethiopia have utilized both sea ports of Eritrea, after independence, with a minimal service fees that is paid in Ethiopian local currency “Birr.”There is no legal or logic ground for Ethiopia’s refusal to comply with EEBC ruling. Sympathizing or encouraging Ethiopia’s violation of the rule of law is only accelerating the unwanted destruction of both peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia.If the sympathizers intention is to help Ethiopia, then let have the regime in Ethiopia swallow the bitter pills of reality. Unless the intention is to secures war and destruction for the benefit of other nations. There will be no way out but abide by the rule of LAW.* The author is the Former Bank of Eritrea Administrator currently resides in United States of America. He can be reached at Ibrahim_Ibrahim@experienceworks.org

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

For the past 16 years, the TPLF regime has shown itself to be the mother and father of all mendacity. The regime has fabricated a great deal lies to confuse and victimize the Oromo and other peoples in Ethiopia. In the process the regime’s survival has totally depended on manufacturing lies and hate propaganda on those it believes threat to its multiple agendas. The regime has been fabricating such baseless lies primarily for the consumption of its international financiers. Thus, over the years the regime has perfected the art of deception for the purpose of obtaining financial and military support from its international backers. Recently as usual, the regime is concocting and spreading a series of false propaganda about the circumstances of the abduction of Kumsaa Gadaa and other and Oromo compatriots.

The goal of the latest fabrication is of twofold. The first is to intensively continue to confuse international community about the OLF, the Oromo people and their legitimate struggle for self-determination, justice, and the rule of law, economic development and peace. The second is to cover the crime it is committing daily against the Oromo people, other people in Ethiopia including the Ogaden Somalis, and the people of Somalia. A few days ago, the propaganda machine of the regime claimed that it has captured in combat a member of OLF leadership and other OLF fighters in Somalia. Contrary to TPLF regime’s fabrication, Kumsaa Gadaa and the other Oromo compatriots were not captured in combat. They were abducted in Mogadishu on January 13, 2007, during the TPLF regime’s illegal aggression and occupation of Somalia. The Kenyan Government, in violation of the Geneva Refugee Convention, has also handed over several non-armed Oromo compatriots, who arecurrently in secret detention center in Ethiopia with other Mogadishu abductees.

The OLF did not engage in combat in Somalia and has no reason to do so. The OLF has been engaged in war of liberation and resistance in Oromia against the tyrannical minority ruleof the TPLF regime. It is the TPLF regime that declared war on the OLF and the Oromo people to perpetuate its illegitimate rule. The struggle that the OLF has engaged in is for just cause and the Oromo war against the TPLF rule is a war of resistance justified under international law. Oromo compatriots who were abducted; and illegally detained are political prisons and prisoners of conscience. The OLF has all reasons to believe that Oromo compatriots are subjected to torture in violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners and the UN Convention against Torture. The statements that the TPLF tormenters obtained from Kumas Gada and the other Oromo compatriots were given under duress, torture and in situation of inhuman and degrading treatments and they should be taken in these contexts. It will not be surprising if the regime goes beyond that and use these prisoners of conscience for other degrading purposes to continue its rule. The relationship of the OLF with the Eritrean people, EPLF and the Eritrean Government goes back for decades and it is a relationship based on mutual interests and common goal of searching for justice, peace and progress. The OLF has similar relationship with other peoples, governments and other regional and worldwide organizations that are in quest for justice peace and progress. The OLF and the Oromo people have all the rights to get help from all the people or Governments that sympathize with their just struggle. It is abominable for the TPLF regime to use the Oromo cause to wage its war mongering propaganda against the Eritrean people and the Eritrean Government. The OLF has nothing but appreciation for all who support the just cause of the Oromo struggle for self-determination. The OLF vehemently condemns the continuation of TLPF’s inhuman and degrading treatment of Oromo prisoners. The OLF Calls upon all human rights and humanitarian organizations and concerned Governments to intervene and save the liberty of all Oromo political and war prisoners languishing in secret prisons.Finally, we end this statement with an Oromo proverb, which says: “a person being washed away by cresting river tries to cling to life by hanging on the fluff”. The TPLF regime’s sinister fabrication about the illegally abducted Oromo nationals will not save it from facing its inevitable demise. Like all tyrannical regimes, the fate of the TPLF regime is already sealed. Meles Zenawi’s regime will soon pass into the dustbin of history.. Victory to the Oromo people!The Oromo Liberation FrontApril 17, 2007